Individual differences in forecast effectiveness of 5 negative affect repair strategies

•We examined forecast effectiveness of 5 negative affect repair strategies.•Forecasts matched known actual effectiveness.•Forecasts were linked with emotional intelligence, personality and well-being.•Findings suggest the importance of examining affect regulation forecasts.

The current study examined individual differences in forecast effectiveness of 5 affect repair strategies. At T1 participants (N = 227) completed measures of personality, emotional intelligence and dispositional strategy usage. At T2 (2 months later) participants made strategy effectiveness forecasts and completed a measure of psychological well-being. Results revealed that emotional intelligence and extraversion were positively, and neuroticism negatively, associated with the forecast efficacy of generally effective strategies (e.g., reappraisal), with the reverse pattern for ineffective strategies (e.g., suppression). Dispositional strategy usage was also positively associated with efficacy forecasts and wide links emerged between efficacy forecasts and well-being. Implications and future directions are discussed.